2008 Colorado State Rams Preview

For the past 15 years, you could always count a couple of things from Colorado State. First, the Rams were going to play gritty, tough football regardless of the score. Second, Sonny Lubick was going to be standing on the sidelines. A new era, however, has dawned at CSU. Lubick, the most successful coach the school has ever known, was dismissed in November despite leading the Rams to six league championships and nine of CSU’s 11 overall bowl berths. Four consecutive non-winning seasons (including an ugly 13-game losing streak), capped by last fall’s 3–9 disaster, proved to be Lubick’s undoing.

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Rams

New coach Steve Fairchild certainly faces a significant challenge. The Rams have stopped winning, and fans have lost interest. They averaged only 16,579 fans for their final two 2007 games at Hughes Stadium, which used to rock every home Saturday during the Rams’ glory days from 1994-2001. Winning, of course, would be the immediate elixir, but that won’t be easy. While the Rams return nine starters, massive holes at quarterback and receiver could stymie the offense, with potential problems at tackle and cornerback a major concern on defense. Fairchild is trying to make up for a lack of big-time talent by changing the attitude within the program. Spring practices were tough and completed at a dizzying tempo, yet every workout included a team-building exercise that put smiles on faces that have forgotten the joy of winning. If Fairchild can get solid quarterback play and find someone other than tight end Kory Sperry to catch the ball, the offense could be formidable. The line and the backs are solid, but without a complementary passing game the Rams will face eight- and nine-man fronts on a regular basis. The defense has got to get faster and tackle better, but the return of coordinator Larry Kerr provides hope. The Rams are probably a year or two away from being able to compete for the MWC title, but Fairchild is convinced that history can repeat itself at CSU.

While the much-beloved Lubick is out, his influence remains. Colorado State’s new coach, Steve Fairchild, not only was a CSU quarterback from 1978-80, but he was also on Lubick’s original staff and served for eight seasons before leaving for the NFL. And Fairchild’s staff includes five men who either coached or played at Colorado State under Lubick.

Fairchild remains close to Lubick — he even hired his son, Marc Lubick, to coach tight ends — and is uncomfortable talking about the circumstances that led to his first head coaching job. He has moved forward, and he hopes CSU’s fans, divided in the days following Lubick’s messy firing, will do the same.

“We won here before, and I’m convinced we can win again,” Fairchild says.

CSU has beefed up the budget and committed to building an indoor facility in an effort to give Fairchild, who served the past two years as offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, every chance to succeed. But considering that the Rams have gone a combined 17–30 over the past four years, it could take some time before they reclaim their past glory.

Quarterbacks

Fairchild’s No. 1 challenge in his first season will be finding a capable replacement for Caleb Hanie, a three-year starter whose impressive yardage totals rarely translated to wins. Fairchild’s new offense will combine some spread characteristics with a power running attack and vertical passing game, so a versatile quarterback is needed. The projected starter is senior Billy Farris, who at times was productive as Hanie’s backup. A strong runner who is not afraid to get hit, Farris showed no ill effects in the spring from a late-season injury to his right (throwing) elbow, but his inconsistency in the passing game remains a concern. The likely backup is Grant Stucker, a strong-armed junior with great speed but no experience. Redshirt freshmen Klay Kubiak, the son of Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, and T.J. Borcky showed flashes of talent in the spring but probably won’t see the field this fall.

Running backs

While quarterback is a huge concern, the opposite is true at running back, where the Rams have an abundance of talent and experience. Four veterans — seniors Kyle Bell, Gartrell Johnson and Mike Myers, plus sophomore John Mosure — are proven performers who will push each other for playing time. Bell rushed for 1,288 yards as a sophomore in 2005 before missing all of 2006 with a torn ACL. He came back last year and was solid (691 yards) but eventually was beaten out for the starting job by Johnson, who averaged 126 yards in his seven starts utilizing a combination of power and surprising speed. Bell reclaimed the starting job in the spring after a very tight battle, but both should see considerable action. Myers, the team’s best home run threat, averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year, while Mosure is Colorado State’s most versatile back. When the Rams do go with two backs, sophomore Zac Pauga is the choice at fullback. He caught 11 passes last year but did not carry the ball once.

Receivers

First, the good news: Senior Kory Sperry is back. Sperry was off to a spectacular start last year — with eight catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener at Colorado — before suffering a torn ACL in the second game. He has recovered quickly and appears poised to establish himself as one of the nation’s premier tight ends. He has great hands and speed for a big man, and his blocking has improved each year. Now, the bad news: Junior Dion Morton is the only returning wideout who caught a pass last year. Morton, who has dazzling speed and moves, figures to be the go-to split receiver, but he needs help — and that was in short supply during the spring. Junior Rashaun Greer shows occasional flashes of ability, but Fairchild likely will be looking to newcomers for the help. Redshirt freshman Matt Yemm has great skills, and incoming freshman Marquise Law likely will get a long look. Fairchild is hoping junior college transfer Ryan Gardner, who averaged 23.4 yards per catch last season, can provide instant impact.

Offensive linemen

The line should be one of the team strengths, with four starters returning and lots of talented youngsters vying for playing time. Adrian Martinez, Cole Pemberton, Shelley Smith and Tim Walter are back as starters, while Scott Benedict, Mark Starr, Paul Madsen, Dane Stratton, Brian Lepak and Northwestern transfer Connor Smith are all capable of winning the final starting job. The line’s experience should make it easier as Fairchild installs his offense, which will feature numerous formations and require linemen to be equally adept at blocking for the run and the pass.

Defensive linemen

If the Rams are to succeed in Larry Kerr’s defense, the line must stop the run and pressure the passer — two factors that have been missing. Senior ends Tommie Hill and Wade Landers provide experience and big-play ability, while sophomore Cory Macon and redshirt freshman Eugene Daniels could be ready to break out. The questions are at tackle, where longtime starters Erik Sandie and Blake Smith have graduated. Senior Matt Rupp holds down one spot, while junior James Morehead, redshirt freshman Nuku Latu and junior college transfer Sevaro Johnson are expected to fill the gaps.

Linebackers

The Rams are blessed with talent and experience, with three starters returning. Jeff Horinek, the soul of the defense, anchors the unit after recording 163 tackles the past two seasons. What he lacks in size and speed he makes up for with smarts and toughness. Junior Jake Pottorff has the makings of a star if his oft-injured shoulders hold up, while sophomore Ricky Brewer brings big-play ability to a defense that has looked slow and cumbersome in recent years. Depth is a plus, with seniors John Clark and Curtis Cornelson returning as part-time starters, while junior Matt Hendrick is a dependable backup. Redshirt freshman Mychal Sisson had a great spring, while incoming freshman Chris Gipson has the ability to play right away.

Defensive backs

The Rams boast great depth at safety, with Mike Pagnotta and Klint Kubiak manning the middle. If they can get through the season without getting hurt, they will rival any safety tandem in the MWC. Reliable senior Jake Galusha started four times last year, while redshirt freshmen Zach Donaldson and Jarrad McKay are terrific prospects. Cornerback, however, is another story. The Rams lost two-year starters Darryl Williams and Joey Rucks to graduation. Walk-on Nick Oppenneer could end up with one of the starting jobs, while sophomore DeAngelo Wilkinson and redshirt freshmen Ivory Herd, Brandon Owens and Elijah-Blu Smith are in the hunt as well. The Rams allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 62.8 percent of their passes last year while grabbing just seven interceptions. Cornerback play this fall just might determine their defensive fate.

Specialists

Senior Jason Smith, a two-year starter at kicker, probably will do the punting as well. Smith, a standout triple-jumper on CSU’s track team, has a chance to finish his career as one of the top three kickers in school history. The return game is up for grabs after heavy losses.

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